The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-14

coaches Every seat in every car had two
three passengers in it Others were standing in
asles sitting on hand baggage and the wood
boxes 1 never before train crowded.
could not sleep, and in an instant the thought
came TO me. what if there should be an accident,
what frghtful loss Of life would be
after that when iolting of the train
felt. In the briefest time it was followed
crash. There not so much noise as one
might expect. It seemed like the tearing or
paper, and before could move the sleeper was
in was piled upon the wreck: 1t stood almost
perpendculariy, but then I hold in the
upper BERTH as 1 thought at first glance, with
out any means OF escape
''And how was that effectedE'
"In a minute or two realized that had
ceived no injury and it but the work of
moment to crawl out of the window. The scene
was indescribable but while had saved my lfe
/ had nothing else but a straw hat. flannel shirt
and pants. The rest of my belongings were in
the wreck. dressed in the open field ana then
went to work assisting in removing the
wounded. Able-bodied stood by through
all the long dark hours before morning came
without lifting finger 1t was not until
o'clock, that got light and long before that
it was difficult to move about the field without
stepping some dead or wounded The women
showed great nerve and many of them got out
of the wreck to work like angels of mercy
Sympathy here, water there, wound dressed
and kind words everywhere filled in the meas
ure of their selfImposed task. The railroad
company did not have enough to clear the
wreck attend to the wounded, not even when
its relief train came But the men of Chatsworth
and Piper City, with those among the survivors.
supplied the demand"
What caused the accidentT
''Prairie fires. Both sides of the track from
Peoria east had been burned and the trestle had,
no doubt, been touched, for the cars lad
sooner been piled top of each other than the
flames broke out anew and set the wreck burn
ing. We fought the fire we'll we could,
but for time it seemed almost hopeless task"
Mr. Vosburgh, physician and young man
from Chatsworth went as a relief corps. He
carried water, the physician dressed wounds
and the Chatsworth man had demijohn of
brandy. Off from the train in the field they
came across little girl eight years of age. She
lay with her head on ladys arm. Both the
lady and child were badly wounded. To the
latter the doctor said, "Where are you hurt,
little daughterW
Don't know" was the reply.
'But l want to help you"
Don't think of / believe both of my
legs broken, but wait Go look for
mamma"
One man pinned in by the wreck called out,
"Who will get me drink of water for a dol
lar?" A lad twelve years of age fastened
between the cars timbers, but he never whm-
pered az stout arms tried to pull him out. At
last they were successful. and the little fellows
life was saved. There were more persons
killed than will ever be known" said Mr.. Vos-
burgh. MANY were taken to their homes be-
fore their names could be ascertained. and you
must not accuse the railway company with
never letting the full list reach the public; but
L want more railroad accidents riding on
excursion trains"